Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Balog on February 21, 2011, 02:26:57 AM
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Finally getting around to doing a bit more prepping, and thinking of getting a lantern or two (http://www.amazon.com/Rothco-740-Kerosene-Lantern-Tall/dp/B000GP1ICS/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1) to supplement the candles if the power goes out. Then I realized I have no idea where kerosene is sold. Walmart? Feed store?
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depends on where i use it i have some real high dollar stuff for lamps in the house lessor stuff for heaters
buy k 1 or better and remember it can be used in lieu of diesel
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Walmart carries it. I also use better "lamp oil" - less smell than kerosene. Walmart for lamps, Home Depot for 5 gallon cans of K1.
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one of our three local gas stations sells K1 from the pump. bring your own container. not sure of the current price, but it is less than diesel fuel.
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Karosene, aka coal oil, is what we used for heating, cooking and lights growing up. House trailers of the late 1930s and 40s didn't have propane. Even if we had electric hook up for lights, we still had to use coal oil for cooking and heating. I've used in a scrape in place of antifreeeze in my old Ford. At a dime a gallon it was far less expensive.
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I have a kerosene cooker I far prefer to cooking with my electric range top. So, at least some of us still use it for cooking. :)
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They sell it at the pump at Fleet Farm, and at a couple of Co-op gas stations around town. Untaxed K1 without red dye (not legal for street use, but without the dye they couldn't detect it.) It currently costs just under $4 per gallon; about the same as diesel.
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I had a kerosene lamp for a while, got rid of the sooty booger and got into Coleman lamps.
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I had a kerosene lamp for a while, got rid of the sooty booger and got into Coleman lamps.
Sooty means you were doing it wrong - period.
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Sooty means you were doing it wrong - period.
I was doing it right, just sooty at start up.
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Sooty at startup means something is wrong, honestly. From the point I light my lamps to the point the glass chimney goes back on, there is no soot at all.
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Sooty at startup means something is wrong, honestly. From the point I light my lamps to the point the glass chimney goes back on, there is no soot at all.
Perhaps but I like my white gas or dual fuel lanterns and stoves better. Seems to be brighter and I get more BTU with white gas than kerosene.
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Doesn't kerosene store better though?
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Perhaps but I like my white gas or dual fuel lanterns and stoves better. Seems to be brighter and I get more BTU with white gas than kerosene.
Kerosene contains ~135,000 BTU/gallon. From what I could find, white gas has ~125,000 BTU/gallon, so about 8% less per gallon.
BTU aside, I pay ~$3.25/gal for K1. How much is your white gas? I believe that any perceived increase in BTU per given amount is FAR outweighed by the cost of other fuels versus kerosene.
EDIT: Balog, before I forget, don't buy cheap Chinese laterns from Amazon or Walmart. Go for lamp-style kerosene lamps (glass base, glass chimney), or better yet order some higher quality lamps from Lehman's online store - they really do have great stuff, but the kerosene and lamp oil there are overpriced.
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Kerosene contains ~135,000 BTU/gallon. From what I could find, white gas has ~125,000 BTU/gallon, so about 8% less per gallon.
Okay I concede to you, master of petrochemicals. :)
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:D
I have 6-8 hours a day of free time. I read a lot, I learn a lot. ;)
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They sell it at the pump at Fleet Farm, and at a couple of Co-op gas stations around town. Untaxed K1 without red dye (not legal for street use, but without the dye they couldn't detect it.) It currently costs just under $4 per gallon; about the same as diesel.
Street use? I remember reading that the old Model T would run on kerosene, but what else? Do you actually mean "non-agricultural" use? ???
Anyway, Home Depot is supposed to sell kerosene in both 1 gallon and 5 gallon cans . . . when I lived up in Minnesota, I found that quite a few gas stations carried it in bulk and would fill your container, charging by the gallon.
The small containers of lamp oil you find for lamps in various stores are actually kerosene, but are generally labeled "paraffin oil" (per British usage) to fool the ignorant into thinking it's something special.
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HankB,
While you are correct regarding paraffin oil = kerosene, quite a few brands/types are more highly refined and simply have no odor at all when burning. It's still not worth paying $18/gallon, though! :D
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Street use? I remember reading that the old Model T would run on kerosene, but what else? Do you actually mean "non-agricultural" use? ???
Anyway, Home Depot is supposed to sell kerosene in both 1 gallon and 5 gallon cans . . . when I lived up in Minnesota, I found that quite a few gas stations carried it in bulk and would fill your container, charging by the gallon.
The small containers of lamp oil you find for lamps in various stores are actually kerosene, but are generally labeled "paraffin oil" (per British usage) to fool the ignorant into thinking it's something special.
No, I mean it's not legal to use it on the highway because the tax hasn't been paid. (you can use it in any diesel) It's sold as heating oil, but you could also use it for a farm tractor I guess. It's cheaper at the pump than buying K1 in prepackaged 1- and 5-gallon jugs or cans like at Home Depot or Lowes.
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If you just need light, here's a cheaper, easier, safer alternative:
Go to Home Depot/ Menards/etc and look for solar landscaping lights. They usually cost $2-3/ea. Buy a bunch of em.
We had an overnight power outage a few weeks ago, I simply plucked a 1/2 dozen of these things from my yard and brought them in to light up rooms in the house. They seem to last about a year before the lens gets fogged up/battery dies/or they just stop working. Bonus: they recharge AA batteries.
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EDIT: Balog, before I forget, don't buy cheap Chinese laterns from Amazon or Walmart. Go for lamp-style kerosene lamps (glass base, glass chimney), or better yet order some higher quality lamps from Lehman's online store - they really do have great stuff, but the kerosene and lamp oil there are overpriced.
Interesting, I was thinking that would be one of those designs so simple and well established the Chinese lack of quality wouldn't make a substantial difference. Hmmm...
Looks like the Lehmans stuff isn't that much more, so I'll probably just go ahead and get it.
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You want the widest wick possible, and for a lantern, you want a Dietz. For lamps, I prefer the larger "amish table" style lamps. :)
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Around here k1 is almost four bucks a gallon or so. We get it at a pump. Some gas stations carry it, others don't.
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Street use? I remember reading that the old Model T would run on kerosene, but what else? Do you actually mean "non-agricultural" use? ???
Anyway, Home Depot is supposed to sell kerosene in both 1 gallon and 5 gallon cans . . . when I lived up in Minnesota, I found that quite a few gas stations carried it in bulk and would fill your container, charging by the gallon.
The small containers of lamp oil you find for lamps in various stores are actually kerosene, but are generally labeled "paraffin oil" (per British usage) to fool the ignorant into thinking it's something special.
Put it in the freezer or set it outside on a cold night and you'll see how special it really is. It will not just gel, it'll solidify into a soft wax. Kerosene and #1 diesel even down to -60* F won't.
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Finally getting around to doing a bit more prepping, and thinking of getting a lantern or two (http://www.amazon.com/Rothco-740-Kerosene-Lantern-Tall/dp/B000GP1ICS/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1) to supplement the candles if the power goes out. Then I realized I have no idea where kerosene is sold. Walmart? Feed store?
Kerosene is sold at pumps at some gas stations. Good luck, they're around but tricky to find.
If you want lamps, let me know. I'm in Amish country. Places around here stock them all the time because a lot of people use them on a daily basis. Best place is an awesome hardware store in the middle of nowhere. Swear, they have everything you need. Before you know you need it. No exceptions thus far. And yep, they stock ammo too.
I can take some pics for you if you're interested?
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That'd be awesome Rev, thank you. :) I want some for practical preps, and some for decoration/romantic lighting other than candles.
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Kerosene is sold at pumps at some gas stations. Good luck, they're around but tricky to find.
If you want lamps, let me know. I'm in Amish country. Places around here stock them all the time because a lot of people use them on a daily basis. Best place is an awesome hardware store in the middle of nowhere. Swear, they have everything you need. Before you know you need it. No exceptions thus far. And yep, they stock ammo too.
I can take some pics for you if you're interested?
I am interested in the kerosene lanterns. Somehow, I have more fiath in the Amish HW store that caters to folk who use them every night over Amazon, which places them in the toy section.
For power outages and parties in the back yard.
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That'd be awesome Rev, thank you. :) I want some for practical preps, and some for decoration/romantic lighting other than candles.
I am interested in the kerosene lanterns. Somehow, I have more fiath in the Amish HW store that caters to folk who use them every night over Amazon, which places them in the toy section.
For power outages and parties in the back yard.
Alright, I'll try to snag photos and prices tomorrow after work. It's literally on the way to and from work.
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http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzIfWy0lMd33PgqmD1c4QDXaKgyA6ELtQzUeceMCli8dwrODer
i use ones like this screw em to wall high enough kids can't knock em off. but low enough the 4 foot high one can reach the knob to turn it up and down. i can leave it lit turned way down as a night light and they burn a long time. not bright enough to read by but plenty bright enough for a power failure back up
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For what it's worth, Lehman's (the store I recommended) is a major supplier to the Amish in Ohio. It's why I use them - I used to live there, and asked where people bought their goods from. :)
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If you're serious about kerosene lanterns, maybe look for Aladdin brand -- the kind that has a gas mantle like a Coleman lantern. You'll get more light and ought to get less smoke and stink.
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Yes, but Aladdin lamps are $150+, last I looked. Worth EVERY single penny.
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For what it's worth, Lehman's (the store I recommended) is a major supplier to the Amish in Ohio. It's why I use them - I used to live there, and asked where people bought their goods from. :)
http://www.lehmans.com I presume?
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Looks right. :)
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hmm, post got nuked. so since most of what i had typed has been covered all ready.
i'll just add, walmart has the jugs of K1, there with the space heaters. [popcorn]
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http://revdisk.org/photos/hardware/
https://s3.amazonaws.com/revdisk/HardwareStore.zip
There ya go. Plus a blurry picture of bins of spare parts
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PRICEY. The lamp on the left in this image, http://revdisk.org/photos/hardware/IMG00858-20110222-1759.jpg, is $4.88 at the WalMart here. At the price shown, it's worth buying elsewhere...
Other items seem to be priced comparably to both WalMart and Lehman's. :)
Price/value, my favorite is http://www.lehmans.com/store/Lamps_Lights___Oil_Lamps___Table_Lamps___Old_Style_Table_Oil_Lamp___1050115?Args=
Without a doubt, it's bright, has a large reservoir, and has a nice wide chimney for efficient, bright burning. =)
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http://revdisk.org/photos/hardware/
https://s3.amazonaws.com/revdisk/HardwareStore.zip
There ya go. Plus a blurry picture of bins of spare parts
You rock.
My company firewall gives me a squawk at your site, but lets me through, the fool.
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with kids the less glass the better for me
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with kids the less glass the better for me
Yep.
I think I will run with those Dietz brand lanterns from Lehmans. One of the Jupiters, that will run 3 days straight, and a couple hurricane lanterns.
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i've really liked mine i only use the real pure oil in the lamps almost no smell and the go a long time
these guys
http://www.bgreeneffects.com/Coppershop1.htm
do some nice candle lamps but the also do a multiwick lantern/chandelier that burns over a 100 hours but you lift it with a pulley. gives a boatload of light, it was 1500 bucks last i checked :O
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we buy Kerosene at the feed store-much cheaper then lowes
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Yep.
I think I will run with those Dietz brand lanterns from Lehmans. One of the Jupiters, that will run 3 days straight, and a couple hurricane lanterns.
I really like the Dietz red lanterns that were made for firehouses. One tank goes for about 36 hours, and they're REALLY hard to tip over.
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I really like the Dietz red lanterns that were made for firehouses. One tank goes for about 36 hours, and they're REALLY hard to tip over.
Wouldn't that be embarrassing if the firehouse burned down. ;/
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something else i had typed up i'll try to redo. didn't make as much sense this time, oh well. :facepalm:
if you have a grill lighter, the stick thing. you can light a lamp(not a mantle lamp globe to tall) with the globe installed, you run the wick up about a half an inch. then stick the stick lighter down the globe and light the corner and quickly run the wick back down. :laugh: cuts down on the soot, other option is to have the wick as low as it'll light, light it put the globe back on and turn it up. nowhere near as much fun though. [popcorn]
don't do this in front of the kids, really easy to knock the lamp over if your not stable. [tinfoil]
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What say you people? Local resale shop that is an SPCA fundraiser has two Coleman white gas lanterns sitting there for $12 apiece. I tried to get them off of the price, but they give you a for teh puppiez guilt trip. Globes good, all parts there, probably need to rebuild at least one pump. Older looking, not sure what models. I'm thinking of getting them, already have two, propane and white gas, but more is better I think. I grew up with lots of oil lamps, don't remember what kinds.
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doesn't walmart still sell them?
looks like a good deal, if there in good shape.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-2-Mantle-Dual-Fuel-Lantern/9870601
something like these are handier if you don't mind batteries.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dorcy-360-Degree-Twin-Globe-LED-Lantern/10340633
remember to be careful not to drop one, they don't like that. :facepalm: i lost a nice white gas backpacking lantern that way. =|
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$12 each? Buy them!
Chris
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I buy, now I find pump parts. One is 1960s and is quite nice except for a little rust on the unpainted steel at the bottom of the illumination chamber. The other is early 80s and is fine, cosmetic dent in the tank. Got it to pressurize, something plugged in the generator. But I have tools and pressurized flammable liquids. Nothing I shouldn't be able to handle.
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But I have tools and pressurized flammable liquids.
we need video
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No video, I can't have my wife find video evidence of me smoking a cigar. She'd be mad at me.
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Rural King.
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No video, I can't have my wife find video evidence of me smoking a cigar. She'd be mad at me.
well if its spectacular enough it might show up as a bright flash in the sat pics